WORRIED residents fear a traffic-choked junction on Liverpool Road will become a 'death trap' if plans to build a new convenience store get the green light.

Residents have voiced outrage that, despite 180 individual letters of objection and a petition with more than 420 signatures, plans for a Co-op store at the junction of Liverpool Road, Hale Road and Prescot Road, Widnes, first submitted in April, have resurfaced and are earmarked for approval.

Hundreds of area residents have already demanded measures to put the brakes on vehicles on Prescot Road.

The protesters are concerned about the safety of nearby schools' pupils and the young children of families nearby who, they claim, will be at risk from a huge increase in traffic in an area which is frequently the scene of traffic chaos.

One of the campaigners, Philip Langley, postmaster of the Ball Post Office which is opposite the planned store site, is up in arms about the proposals.

He said the applicant's traffic survey showed there would an extra 180 cars over a 16-hour period, from customers visiting the shop. He said the residents have conducted their own traffic survey, however, and claim a more accurate figure is 120 cars per hour.

Mr Langley said: 'Someone is going to get killed - this mistake has already been made with the Asda store and resulted in the death of child and we don't want history repeating itself.

'The residents agree this is a total disregard for health and safety.

'The main issue is danger. We know how bad this road is and it cannot take any more traffic.

'The residents have been writing to the council again to relaunch the protest. The council has been warned by the residents that should this development be allowed it will significantly increase the risk of death or serious injuries.'

A report to the council's development control committee, which is to consider the plans, said that negotiations with the Co-op had resulted in amended plans and the Co-op had made a commitment to improve safety both on and off the site.

A council spokeswoman said: 'We are aware of all of the residents' concerns and in particular the questions they raise about highway safety.

'These concerns, along with others raised in writing and at the earlier public meetings, will be thoroughly evaluated and addressed by the committee.'